ISLAMABAD: China has proposed selling Pakistan 40 fifth-generation J-35stealth fighter jets, KJ-500 airborne early warning aircraft, and asophisticated ballistic missile defense system. This offer, confirmed byPakistani officials, aligns with Islamabad’s announcement of a 20 percenthike in its 2025-26 defense budget, pushing expenditures to nine billiondollars despite, a report submitted in US Congress revealed. The moveunderscores deepening Sino-Pakistani strategic partnerships amid regionalvolatilities.
The J-35, Beijing’s cutting-edge stealth platform comparable to Westerncounterparts, represents China’s first major export of fifth-generationtechnology. Accompanied by the KJ-500 for enhanced surveillance and theHQ-19 anti-missile shield, the package aims to fortify Pakistan’s airsuperiority and defensive posture. Government sources indicate negotiationsare advancing swiftly, with potential deliveries slated for earlyimplementation to address immediate operational needs.
Pakistan’s budget augmentation, detailed in the federal finance ministry’sJune presentation, allocates 2.55 trillion rupees for defense, up fromprior levels. This surge prioritizes procurement and modernization,reflecting lessons from recent border skirmishes. Finance Minister MuhammadAurangzeb emphasized that while overall spending faces a seven percent cutdue to economic pressures, security imperatives demand robust investments,including salary hikes and operational enhancements.
A recent report submitted to the US Congress has spotlighted thesedevelopments, highlighting China’s aggressive marketing of its weaponrypost a May India-Pakistan aerial clash. The document, from the US-ChinaEconomic and Security Review Commission, notes Beijing’s disinformationefforts to undermine French Rafale jets while promoting J-35 sales toIslamabad. It portrays the episode as China’s inaugural real-world test ofadvanced arms in a proxy context, raising alarms over technologyproliferation.
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These transactions signal a pivot in South Asian power dynamics,potentially intensifying arms races and complicating US-India alignments.Analysts warn that enhanced Pakistani capabilities could alter deterrenceequations, urging multilateral dialogues to mitigate escalation risks. AsIslamabad navigates fiscal constraints alongside security demands, theChina lifeline offers both opportunities and geopolitical entanglements.
Source:www.dawn.com/news/1956030/report-submitted-to-us-congress-mentions-pakistans-military-success-over-india-in-may-conflict”>https://www.reuters.com/sustainability/land-use-biodiversity/pakistan-likely-hike-defence-spending-slash-overall-budget-2025-26-2025-06-10/”>https://www.dawn.com/news/1956030/report-submitted-to-us-congress-mentions-pakistans-military-success-over-india-in-may-conflictSource:www.reuters.com/sustainability/land-use-biodiversity/pakistan-likely-hike-defence-spending-slash-overall-budget-2025-26-2025-06-10/”>https://www.reuters.com/sustainability/land-use-biodiversity/pakistan-likely-hike-defence-spending-slash-overall-budget-2025-26-2025-06-10/
